Actuating mechanism for cinematograph films.



A. S. HOWELL.

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13.1915- PatentedMay 28, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

mammo- 01782:? dff/(izz/eazi A. SLHOWELL.

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I3, I915.

Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ALBERT s. HowELL, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIe-Non'ro BELL & HowELL comrm OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

screams mncnanjrsm FOR cmn maroeaermc FILMS.

My invention relatesgenerally to cine-. matographs wherein an elongated strip or ribbon of film bearing a plurality of successivepictures is passed in front of a light opening or aperture for the purpose of projecting upon a screen a picture havm apparently animated figures thereina ore particularly my invention relates to a novel mechanism for moving the film, and its object is to produce a structure of this type that is accurate and effective in its operation, is simple in construction and easy to operate, and which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture h v These and other objects I prefer .to accomplish by the means and in the manner hereinafter fully described and as more par ticularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the several figures,

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of my novel film actuating mechanism, shown detached from the housing and other-parts.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my invention showing only a portion of the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal section taken on line 3-3, of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7. are diagrammatic Views illustrating four different positions of the film engaging and actuating shuttle.

Fi 8 is a greatly enlarged side elevationa detail view of the pick showing the manner of its engagement with the film.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a strip of film, drawn to an enlarged scaleand illustrating themanner of its enlargement by the pick and substantially a front elevation of the view shown in Fig 8.

After an understanding of my invention is had, it will be obvious to others skilled in the art of cinematography that the mechanism herein disclosed is equally applicable for moving film in motion picture cameras, printing machines, or projecting machines C of substantia Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 28, 1%18, Application filed February 13,1915. Serial No. 7,930. I

the front wall of a suitable housing orframe within which my invention is adapted to be inclosed and which maybe of any suitable or desirable shape and dimensions. This front 'wall is provided with the usual swinging member or gate B in which the aperture vided which registers with the aperture insaid front wall and between the ate-and front wall the, film ,D is adapte to be passed'or moved, preferably downwardly in a vertical planethe elements just described providing a guide for the film. Gate B is ly rectangular shape is pro- I i to the film actuating mechanism, which may be of any suitable construction and disposi tion. I have illustrated a typical gearing that comprises a relatively large main or drive gear 10 secured upon and rotatable with a continuously revoluble shaft 11, one end of which latter is provided with an actuating crank 12. Mounted. respectively above and below shaft 11 and with their axes parallel to and in vertical alinement with the axis of said shaft 11 'are large gears 14 and 15 which mesh with and are driven by a pinion 13 mounted on shaft .11 and on the shafts 16 and 17 of these gears, are mounted the usual fiim sprockets l8 and 19 respectively that are employed for the purpose of engaging the perforations in the edge of the film D and feeding the latter to and withdrawing it from the actuatin mechanism.

The actuating mechanism 18 for the purpose of imparting to the film an intermittent motion in preferably comprises a shuttle member and suitable devices for moving the same into and out of engagement with the film. The

ont of the aperture andshuttle comprises a suitable frame 20 which in the drawings I have illustrated as substantially rectangular injshape consisting of two side and two end members, the central portion being hollow and divided into .two preferably squareopenings 21 and 22 by a a transversely disposed cross piece 2%. While .I have found the structure just described best adapted for this purpose, it of course w1ll be obvious that my invention is not neceSsarily limited thereto. This shuttle is guided in any suitable manner and is adapted to be operated by any convenient means. I have not illustrated any guiding means for it is obvious the shuttle could readily be placed between two faced parallel guide plates. I have, however, illustrated one manner of operating the shuttle which consists of a pair of segmental shaped cams 21 and 25 that are substantially the 'samethickness as said shuttle and are mounted on suitable shafts 26 and 27 which flatterare driven by gear 10 through the medium of pinions 28 and 29 fast on said shafts 26 and 27 respectively. Opposite quadrants are respectively described upon the longest and shortest radii of these cams and these quadrants are connected by a hyperbolic continuation of the lines of the quadrant of shorter radii until an intersection is made with the large 'quadrant. lVhen the cams are rotated in their recesses in the shuttle they impart to the latter a movement which describes a rectangular figure- The respective paths of this rectangular movement are clearly illustrated in the diagrammatic views in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 and which may be described as in a horizontal directlon fora ward for the purpose of engaging the film 40 (Fig. 7 shows the cams in the position to commence the first step or forward movement) downwardly in a vertical direction, the inception of which movement is illustrated in Fig. 4; rearwardly parallel with the initial movement for the'purpose of disengaging the picks from the film, the inception of which movement is shown in Fig.

5; and upwardly parallel with the second the pick to its upmovement for returning) f hi h eginnmg o w c permost position, the

- movement is shown in Fig. 6. The forward edge of the shuttle is provided with a plurality of picks adapted to engage the perforations in the film and the movements just described are adapted to move said'picks into engagement with the film, then move the film downwardly, then release the picks from the film, and lastly return the picks to their initial position to engage a second series of perforations, and wh'ilethe motion of the shuttle is continuous the motion imparted to the film is intermittent.

As illustrated in Figs. 8 .and 9 of the drawings, wherein the pick and film are drawn to exaggerated scales, it will be seen that the film 30 is provided with a single longitudinal row of perforations 31 extending along one edge of the pictures or scenes 32 similar to the film described and claimed in my application for Letters Patent of the United States for improvements in cinematographic films filed February 13, 1915, Serial Number 7 ,929. The perforations 31 in this film are so disposed that one of said perforations is opposite each film picture or as shown in the drawing opposite the transverse dividing line 33 between adjacent pictures as illustrated in"Fig. 9.' The vertical edge of the shuttle 20 adjacent to and facing the fihn is provided with preferably three laterally disposedteeth 34, 35 and 36 that have slightly tapered or reduced outer positions and the parallel portions of said.

teeth substantially correspond in transverse section with the contour of the perforations 31 of the fihn. The centraltooth-35 is substantially the same dimensions as "the perforations so'that it will engage and fit-snugly I therein as shown in Fig. 9, while the upper and lower'teeth 31 and 36 are slightly less in vertical thickness than the perforations and are disposed with relation to the central tooth 35 that when they are in engage ment with the film they secure-a vertical 1 positioning or control of the This disposition and construction of the teeth permit the exact registration and almement of the film conjunction with the ap-.

erture of the apparatus through the engagement of the three teeth or picks which maintain the vertical disposition of the p10- ture and through the accurately fitting central tooth or pick which locates the scene or view horizontally.

In order to release the pressure of the ios gate B upon the fihn during the'movement of the latter I provide a lug of bracket 37 upon the front or forward edge of the shuttle frame in the outer end of which a small roller 38 is journaled and which extends through a slot 39 in the front plate of the housing. These elements are arranged so that whenthe shuttle is at the limit of its forward or outward movement said roller 38 will engage the inner surface of the gate and move it away from the film a distance to permit the passage of the film without danger of scratching or marring the same, and when the shuttle begins its return 01- rearward movement the gate will be permitted to return to its normal position by fications and refinements are contemplated within the scope of my invention as expressed in the following claims:

What I claim as new is,-

l. A shuttle for moving perforated film comprising a member provided with'a pluously operating corresponding cams dis-t posed in said compartments and adapted to bodily move saidshuttle in a path describing a rectilinear figure. 1

3. A shuttle for movin film comprising a substantially rectangular frame consisting of side and end members and divided centrally to provide two openings, rotatable shafts extending into said openings, and means carried by said shafts adapted to move said shuttle ina path wherein said shuttle engages, disengages, and actuates said film.

4:. A film moving mechanism co rnprising a guide through which film is adapted to travel, a spring actuated member for frictionally holding film in said guide, a vertically and horizontally reciprocal member,

and projections carried thereby, one of said. pro ect1ons adapted to release the pressure of said spring actuated member and the remaining projections adaptedto engage and move said film.

5. A device for moving film comprising a substantially integral frame, and a pair of vertically alining simultaneously operating cams upon which said member is mounted and adapted to bodily move said member successively into and out of engagement with the film and longitudinally with respect to the same and whereby accurate-registry of said member is provided.

6. A shuttle for moving film comprising a substantially rectangular frame having a plurality of film engagin teeth integral with the front wall thereo two cams disposed'adjacent each other within said frame and in the same vertical plane adapted to move the shuttle in a substantiall rectilinear path to engage, actuate and isengage the film.

7 A shuttle for moving film comprising a substantially rectangular frame having a plurality of film engaging teeth Integral with the front wall thereof, cams mounted within said frame the axes of which are in substantial vertical alinement with each other,'-said cams bein so timed as to move the shuttle in a su stantially rectilinear High to engage, actuate and disengage the Gnonen O. Knavm, WM. HAROLD EIGHEIMAN. 

